LANSING, MICH.-Friends and family will bid farewell to approximately 12 Michigan National Guard Soldiers from Grand Ledge as they depart for Fort Benning, Ga., and then Kuwait for a nine month tour of duty. The Soldiers are assigned to Operational Support Airlift Detachment 15 based in Grand Ledge.

The Soldiers will train for approximately two weeks at Fort Benning before they deploy to Kuwait. Their mission is to provide VIP, troop and cargo transportation throughout the theater of operations. The unit will complete their mission in C-12 fixed wing aircraft.

The deployment ceremony will held Friday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m., at the Michigan National Guard Headquarters, 3411 N. Martin Luther King Blvd., Lansing, Mich.

Today, nearly 1,000 Michigan National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are deployed across the globe in support of the global war on terrorism; however, as the Michigan Guard serves the nation abroad, more than 90 percent of the force is available, trained and ready to respond to a state emergency including a terrorist event.

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MEDIA ADVISORY: Media is invited to attend the departure ceremony. Soldiers and family members will be available for interviews one hour prior to the 1 p.m. ceremony.